Puzzle.



No. 822,862. PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

W. E. MGGRAW & A. M. GOODALE.

PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1905.

ANDREW a ran-mm co.. vuom uwonmpuzns. wAswNumN u c UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906.

Application filed June 24, 1905. Serial No. 266,725.

To all whom it'mcty concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM E. MGGRAW and AUGUSTUS M. GOODALE, citizensof the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver andState of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPuzzles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in puzzles.

Our improved construction consists of a railway-track in the shape of aY, the same being mounted on a suitable support, as a board or plate,and provided with a number of cars shaped to move on the differentmembers of the track, the cars being differently colored to correspondwith colored sections adjacent the curved portions of the Y.

We preferably employ four blocks or pieces to represent cars and oneblock or piece to represent a locomotive, the latter being provided withthe representation of a smokestack and a pilot. The normal position ofthe locomotive is on the straight track, while that of the cars is uponthecurved branches of the Y and adjacent the sections outside of the Yof the same color as the cars.

In order to solve the puzzle, it is necessary to so manipulate the carsin connection with the locomotive that the latter may pass from thestraight track around the Y and back to the straight track, with itsforward extremity pointing in the opposite direction from that ofstarting, at the same time leaving all of the cars in their originalpositionsthat is to say, adjacent the correspondingly colored sectionsof the board or plate.

Having briefly outlined our improved construction, as well as thefunction or purpose it is intended to subserve, we will proceed todescribe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of our improved constructionwith the cars and locomotive in their normal positions. Fig. 2 is asection taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view indetail of one of the pieces representing a car. Fig. 4 is a similar viewof the piece representing a locomotive.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 4 designate a supportingbase which may consist of arectangular piece of wood or any other suitable material. Upon thisboard is formed the representation of two branch railroad-tracks B,curved outwardly on the same side from the main line A, forming what isknown as a Y This Y is provided with points D, E, and F, where twosections of the track intersect or come together. The tracks also havesections G, H, and O, projecting in each instance beyond the points D,E, and F. These track-sections O, G, and H are each of suflicient lengthbeyond the point to accommodate two cars or pieces representing cars,but are not of suflicient length to accommodate three cars or pieces.

Adjacent the curved sections B of the Y and on the outside of thesesections are formed colored areas, (designated I,J, K, and L,respectively.) I designates the yellow area; J, the red; K, the blue,and L the white. The areas I, J, and K are shaded to indicate theirrespective colors.

The tracks are formed by -metal strips 9, arranged on opposite sides ofthe slots 10. These slots accommodate tongues formed on the lower sidesof the pieces representing the cars and locomotive, the said tongueshaving outwardly-extending flanges at their lower extremities whichproject underneath the flanges of the said strips which are angleshapedin cross-section. (See Fig. 2.)

The pieces constituting the cars are designated 5, 6, 7, and 8, and theyare distinguished by the colors yellow, red, blue, and white tocorrespond with the correspondingly-colored areas I, J, K, and L. Thelocomotive is designated 12 and is provided with a part 13, representinga smoke-stack, and a projection 14, representing a pilot. Each car, aswell as the locomotive, is provided on its under side with a tongue 15,having laterallyprojecting flanges 16, which extend underneath the topflanges of the angle-iron strips 9 in order to hold the pieces upon thetrack.

Normally the cars and locomotive are in the position shown in Fig. 1,and, as heretofore stated, in order to solve the puzzle it is necessaryto get the locomotive from its position on the straight track pointingtoward the left to a corresponding position on the straight trackpointing in the opposite direction, it being required that thelocomotive shall pass around the Y on the tracks and that after passingaround the cars 6, 5, 7, and 8 shall be in their respectivepositions-that is to say, adjacent the areas I, J, K, and L ofcorresponding color, the cars 5 and 6 being between the points E and D,and the cars 7 and 8 between the points D and F.

Attention is called to the fact that any car can only be moved when inconnection with the locomotive. A car may, however, be moved either inthe front or rear of the locomotive, and a number of cars may also bemoved with the locomotive at the same time as far as practicable.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim is 1. In a puzzle,the combination with blocks representing a locomotive and a number ofcars, of a base having a main track and two branch tracks divergingtherefrom in reverse directions on the same side of the main track anduniting in a spur forming a Y, the main track extending beyond the pointof intersection of the branches a distance just equal to the length ofthe said spur, the distance in saaee each case being-sufficient to holdthe 10001110 tive and one car only.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with blocksrepresenting a 1000- motive and a number of cars, of a base hav' ing amain track and two branch tracks diverging therefrom in reversedirections on the same side of the track, the base adjacent the branchtracks being provided with a number of differently-colored areas equalto the number of the blocks representing the cars, the cars beingcolored to correspond with the coloring of the said areas, the branchtracks uniting in a spur forming a Y, the main track extending beyondthe intersection of the branch tracks in both directions a distanceequal to the length of the spur of the Y, the length of the spur and thesaid extension being only suflicient to hold the locomotive and one car.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM E. MOGRAW. AUGUSTUS M. GOODALE.

Witnesses:

DENA N ELSON, A. J. OBRIEN.

